Heroin is now the most widely abused narcotic in the state. Active investigations by Vermont State Police have more than doubled in recent years.

In at least one community, the drug is so prevalent nearly all other crimes are caused either directly or indirectly by drug use. But it's not just a problem in the bigger cities, it's spreading into Vermont’s rural areas, finding its way into neighborhoods and schools.

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“I’ve been in and out of rehab for the past ten years. I kind of stick to myself, but living in this part of town, it’s kind of harder cause it's around here more, around this neighborhood more,” Tina Graham, a former addict and lives on the northwest side of Rutland.

“It's not good for the kids to be around, to grow up and see,” Graham added.

Graham's neighbor wouldn't talk on camera because her son is in jail for selling heroin, and she said she knows too many people who sell it.

Baker says the drug problem is so bad in his community, there's no time to actually combat the users. His officers are busy responding to the secondary crimes like break-ins and robberies caused by the drug use.

“Everything we do is being driven by the substance abuse problem now to what degree and to what percentage. I can't say with certainty, but we are so busy responding to those challenges in the neighborhoods that we don't have time to be proactive in trying to address this problem,” Baker explained.

Several people tell Newschannel 5 they've witnessed drug deals happening on the northwest side of Rutland. They say if you spend a little bit of time outside a convenience store or a gas station you can see one yourself.

It's not just bigger cities. The problem reaches into Vermont's smaller communities as well like in Chester, where just last month authorities arrested 10 people at the Pleasant Brook apartment complex. They found more than $26,000 worth of heroin inside, $18,000 in cash, Oxycontin and crack cocaine.

Vermont Drug Task Force Commander, Lieutenant Matt Birmingham says aside from marijuana, heroin is now the most widely used drug in the Green Mountain State.The drugs are coming in from the bigger urban areas where it costs just a few bucks a bag, brought to Vermont and sold for between 15 and 25 dollars per bag.

“The markup is incredible and they're making a lot of money doing it and they know that,” Birmingham said.

Couple that with pain pills being more expensive and a reformulation of Oxycontin, that makes it harder for users to abuse and Birmingham says that's what's behind the heroin infiltration.

“These drugs are unfortunately in high schools in Vermont and they're a reality. I mean we're talking about very powerful, very addictive drugs,” Birmingham explained.In two years, the amount of active heroin investigations the Vermont State Police is handling more than doubled.

In 2009, there were 29 cases and that figure jumped to 59 just two years later. In 2012, there are 73 heroin investigations – just through October.

“I can tell you just from what i know and what i see is that it appears we're seeing an increase in burglaries and property crimes and it's corresponding with an increase in heroin,” Birmingham explained.

“They can't work, so what do they do? They steal. It's easy,” said former addict Dan Colomb.

Colomb started using when he was 13. He's been to 35 rehabs and can't remember how many times he was arrested.

“When I was high, I did whatever I needed to do to stay high, you know, and that means anything,” Colomb said.

But he's sober now for seven years.

He's lived in Rutland nearly his entire life and is committed to helping those who are still struggling.

In the last few years, he's brought ten people to rehab.

“The Rutland police…they're trying, but if they don't get people in recovery, it's not going to get any better. They can lock them up and they're going to get out and they're going to get right back on the drugs,” Colomb said.

The chief knows treatment is a must, but it's just one part of fixing Vermont’s heroin issues.

“The first thing that we have to do is, is we have to acknowledge that we have a problem. The next thing is that, I've said this all along, we're not going to arrest our way out of this. There are some underlying social issues here that need to be addressed,” Chief Baker said.

The chief also says there are social issues that need to be addressed like poverty and abandoned houses that can become havens for drug users and dealers.

His new strategy also means help from the feds. The ATF, DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals’ and the U.S. Attorney’s office are now directly working with his department.

As for the state police, they say they're fighting heroin with rigorous enforcement and focusing on those trafficking the drug, but education and treatment are also key components.

Burlington police say heroin is growing in popularity there, too, adding it's certainly the drug of choice for many addicts.

Break-ins and robberies are also rising there as well now when drug crimes are reported they immediately work the case with the DEA and FBI.